Chapter 55: The Gu Master
Relying on the concealing properties of his black robe, Song Changsheng weaved through the crowd, shaking off all his pursuers. Then, he cautiously circled the market several times before removing his black robe in a hidden spot and returning to the Seeking Treasure Pavilion, exercising extreme caution...
Not long after he returned, in a tavern at the northwest corner of the Seeking Treasure Pavilion, a mysterious figure clad in a long robe with peculiar patterns and wearing a silver human-faced mask, took a seat by the window on the second floor.
The Seeking Treasure Pavilion was diagonally opposite the window. His arm rested on the windowsill, and a pair of eyes, glinting with cold light, quietly gazed out the window, lost in thought.
A waiter in the tavern approached the mysterious figure and enthusiastically asked, "Esteemed customer, what can I get for you?"
The mysterious figure turned his head, and the waiter's body instantly stiffened. The waiter's eyes gradually became shrouded in a layer of crimson, but in a flash, they returned to normal.
"Just a pot of wine, whatever you have," the mysterious figure said in a hoarse voice.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The waiter seemed unaware of what had just transpired and quickly went downstairs to fetch the wine.
The mysterious figure drank a pot of wine until sunset before departing. In the time that followed, the waiter would occasionally stare blankly out the window.
If one were to meticulously observe his pupils, faint traces of crimson light could still be vaguely seen, appearing utterly bizarre...
Song Changsheng waited for three days before receiving another message from Zhu Yiqun. This time, it was good news: the senior loose cultivator who possessed the Heart Protection Pill had agreed to meet him.
However, the location was chosen by the other party. Possibly for security reasons, he selected a place within the market, a spiritual herb market with relatively high foot traffic.
As usual, he first informed Song Luyuan, then concealed his tracks and arrived at the designated spot, a spiritual herb stall located in a corner.
While other stalls had at least a few people lingering, if not a bustling crowd, this particular stall was different. For a long time, no one came to purchase spiritual herbs, making it unusually deserted.
Song Changsheng realized why as he approached: everything at this stall was exorbitantly priced; anyone of sound mind wouldn't buy from him.
However, his attention wasn't on these spiritual herbs. He quietly observed the stall owner, who sat cross-legged behind the counter. He was a dignified middle-aged cultivator with a pallid face, devoid of any hint of color.
He wore a faded blue Daoist robe and was in a state of meditative repose, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.
Judging solely by his appearance, this person truly did not seem to be of the demonic path.
Song Changsheng quietly clutched the talisman bestowed upon him by Song Luohuai, and in a calm voice, he said, "Senior, don't you think choosing such a location is a little too conspicuous?"
The stall owner slowly opened his eyes. Although his complexion was poor, his eyes were bright and piercing, like lamps in the night, shining brilliantly.
"A crowd also serves as a cover. That person's tracking methods are very potent. I can sense his aura on you; you've already been targeted by him," the stall owner's voice was steady and calm, though an undeniable weakness permeated it.
Song Changsheng was startled by these words and quickly and discreetly glanced around with the corner of his eye, yet he found nothing amiss.
"No need to look. It's crowded and chaotic here, and with various spiritual herbs causing interference, those little things under his command won't notice us so quickly," the stall owner said casually, idly fiddling with the spiritual herbs in front of him.
"Who is that person?"
The stall owner looked up at him, then said, "His name is Feng Wuming; he's a highly skilled Gu Master."
"Gu Master?" Song Changsheng's pupils suddenly dilated. Gu Masters were an extremely obscure profession, and they were universally condemned because their methods of implanting Gu were incredibly difficult to guard against. One could easily fall prey to them with a moment's inattention, and no one wanted to deal with such dangerous individuals.
"You'd best be careful these days. Don't interact with strangers. Once you're afflicted with Gu, even if you don't die, you'll be stripped of a layer of skin," the stall owner said lightly.
Song Changsheng frowned slightly but did not panic. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for the warning, Senior."
"It's merely idle chatter," the stall owner smiled faintly, extending his hand to Song Changsheng. "You've had your wish and met me. Where is the item I requested?"
Song Changsheng took out the stone and, staring into the stall owner's eyes, asked, "This stone doesn't seem like an item of the righteous path. Might Senior enlighten me as to what it is?"
One must remember that he was facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Such words were extremely impolite, even somewhat offensive.
This was only possible because they were within the market; outside, he wouldn't dare.
The stall owner glanced at him and said indifferently, "This is a peculiar stone that Feng Wuming has irrigated with his blood using a secret technique. It can attract Gu worms. I need to use it to draw out the Gu worms within my body.
In essence, it is an evil object. It's normal for you to have that feeling."
"Has Senior never considered that this might be a poisoned bait?"
The stall owner chuckled, "Feng Wuming has been looking for me all these years, but he only knows I'm in Great Qi and doesn't know my exact location. So he intends to use this item to lure me out.
Over these past few years, whenever this item has been auctioned in a new location, he would deliberately spread the news. He knows I need this item, and once I receive news, I won't possibly give up on it.
Although the bait is poisoned, I naturally have a way to deal with it. You don't need to worry about that, little friend."
The stall owner's words aligned almost perfectly with Song Changsheng's conjectures, which made him even more curious about the other party's identity. So many appraisers at the Eight Directions Pavilion couldn't identify it, yet he knew so much. Could it be that he and Feng Wuming were from the same path?
"This bottle contains the Heart Protection Pill, little friend. You should give me the item now," the stall owner took out a purple jade vial from his bosom and placed it before Song Changsheng.
The other party had been cooperative to this extent; for Song Changsheng to press his luck further would truly be an act of arrogance. He quickly handed over the stone and the remaining spirit stones to the stall owner.
Both parties inspected their respective goods, and after confirming everything was in order, the stall owner slowly rose. "Young friend, you have done me a great service. I will give you a piece of advice: beware of people wearing silver masks."
With that, the stall owner rolled up the items on his stall and disappeared into the crowd.
"Let the soldiers come and the generals meet them; let the waters rise and earth hold them back," Song Changsheng murmured softly, looking at the purple jade vial in his hand.
He had, in a way, shielded the other party from disaster this time. Being targeted by a Gu cultivator was indeed a very dangerous matter, but he did not regret it; it was merely an equal exchange.
As for the Gu Master, he wasn't particularly worried. The years of Primal Energy he had accumulated were not just for show.
Song Changsheng also blended into the crowd and disappeared...
Some time after they departed, an inconspicuous black insect arrived at the spot where they had met. The insect circled the location where the stall owner had been sitting a few times before settling down.
Feng Wuming strode over, sensing the auras of the two individuals. He frowned slightly and said, "The Qi thread connection is broken. It seems he discovered the contingency I left behind. I miscalculated.
It looks like I'll have to start with the other person instead."
(Chapter End)